OTTO: Ode to the Original

OTTO is one of the newest cafes on Richmond’s Bridge Road, bringing new life to the area’s once thriving street. Meaning ‘Ode to the Original’, the team pride themselves on offering original ideas and authentic food and drink options free of pretentiousness. 

Shying away from the classic white, wood and green décor that has become standard in cafes across the world, OTTO have opted for modern elements such as metal and copper accents, marble tables, leather booth seating and strip lighting, to achieve a sleek and minimalist aesthetic.

With a Vue de Monde alumnus as head chef, OTTO’s menu will please those who just want their smashed avo on toast (which has a miso twist), but also offer a number of unique dishes that you don’t often see on the Melbourne brunch circuit. They’ve put a fresh spin on some classics such as the humble scotch egg or trout rillettes with slow-cooked duck egg, and use thick ‘kaiserfleisch’ instead of everyday bacon. 

OTTO’s signature dish, exotic mushrooms with egg custard, might sound questionable as a brunch dish as first glance, but is truly the hero on this menu and is a must try. The combination of soft and crispy mushrooms in a silky and creamy not quite sweet but not quite savoury custard is delicious – thank us later. 

Many of OTTO’s dishes feature delicate and sophisticated elements that elevate each dish – like mandarin pearls on the French toast, truffle and black garlic on the mushroom custard or wasabi peas on the smashed avo. Also on the menu is a fun selection of alternative lattes – matcha, taro, turmeric, beetroot and sesame – and a number of delicious smoothies and juices. 

For those of us that can never choose from a brunch option, OTTO offers a generous sharing platter for two for $45, featuring a little bit of all the feature dishes on their menu including the mushroom egg custard, scotch egg, pain perdu (french toast), hush puppies (similar to corn fritters), kaiserfleisch, black pudding, miso smashed avo and toast. 

Get in and make yourself at home at OTTO. 

OTTO
3/189 Bridge Road, Richmond, 3121
Open 7 days, Monday to Saturday, 7am to 4pm, Sunday, 8am to 4pm
ottomelbourne.com.au